5 things you need to know before buying DJI Mavic Pro

According to the reviews, DJI Mavic Pro takes a pretty high rank. Designer and Creative Entrepreneur Roberto Blake bought one, and he’s among those who love it. But, he points out that there are still some things you need to know before making the final decision. No matter how amazing DJI Mavic Pro is, you still want to make sure that the final decision is the best one you make. So, here are five things you need to know before buying this drone.

1. You must register with the FAA and get commercial license

The first and the foremost, before your drone even takes the first flight, you need to register with the FAA. Of course, this works for any drone, not just the DJI Mavic Pro, and you need to have it in mind. It costs $6 to register, and you can do it on their website.

However, there’s one more thing to pay attention to. If you’re going to use the drone for commercial photos and video, you need to get the commercial license, too. It’s a new requirement from the government, so the place where you can get this license is still limited.

2. DJI app doesn’t allow flying in restricted areas

There are some places where it’s forbidden to fly a drone. Fortunately, the DJI’s app for the Mavic Pro shows you those places. When you reach the place where you can’t fly, the app will alert you, but not only that. If you’re in the area where flying is restricted, the app will also not let you launch the drone. Of course, no matter how frustrating this may sound, it’s actually positive. If you’re in the restricted zone, it saves you from getting into trouble.

On the other hand, if you’re using a third-party app, it’s possible that it won’t warn you when you’re in the no-flying zone. So, if you aren’t using the original app, make sure to be careful where you’re flying the drone.

3. Don’t block the drone’s vents and use right accessories

Before you start taking those stunning shots and videos, it’s important that you understand the drone’s mechanics. There are vents in the front (where the gimbal is) and on the bottom of the drone. If they’re blocked in any way, it may cause the drone to overheat.

So, if you’re using any accessories on the drone, make sure they don’t obstruct the vents. Roberto recommends this protective cover. It protects the drone’s camera and gimbal, helps with flaring, but at the same time doesn’t block the vents.

4. Find a backup tracking system

Other than the DJI app, consider finding another way of tracking your drone in case you lose it. If it crashes somewhere or goes out of reach, the app may not be of much help. So, get some RFID tags or GPS locator to make sure you’ll be able to find the drone even if the app fails you.

5. DJI Mavic Pro is very light

The final point to note is that DJI Mavic Pro is made from engineering plastic. It makes durable, but also super-light. This means that in strong wind, this drone may struggle and have difficulties. Roberto had it flying in 10 mph wind, and it was harder than usual to control it. In 15-16 mph wind, the drone could become more fragile and prone to crashes.

Last but not least, some general safety advice, for the drone, yourself and other people equally. Don’t fly in the strong wind and over crowds. If the wind is not that strong and you can still control the drone, still – try not to fly over water. Just to be on the safe side.

After having lost a Phantom to the ocean, im curious to see a test of its weather-proofing(if any). Just a little bit of mist/spray was enough to bring my drone down. Im building my own 6 rotor unit, but in a quest to find robust motors that can handle the occaisional ocean spray 🙁

lewisfrancis

Registration is $5 for three years for as many drones as you own, iow, YOU are being registered, not your drone.

The Mavic’s camera is not of the same quality as its more expensive cousins in the more-or-less consumer class, the P4 and P4P. Make sure you check video and still examples before buying to see if it’s good enough for your purposes.

For me, the quality, portability and feature set at the price point I wanted to pay was the right combination.

Epiphi

The Mavic actually performs much better in wind than this article mentions. I’ve flown in winds over 20mph and it still can hold its position steady and even fly into the wind. Still be careful, but it performs amazingly well.

lewisfrancis

Agreed, you do need to know what you are doing and be prepared for contingencies, though, so def good advice for a beginner.

Offcamber

Not true. It does not prevent you from taking off. It requires you to acknowledge that you are in a restrictive place but you can still fly. I live less than a mile from an airport and can acknowledge the warning and then takeoff and fly.

Milty

Wrong..Office. when there is a TFR in your area the app will not let the props even turn..I live in Palm Beach. Every time Trump is here our club closes…no fly for the TFR period

Offcamber

I live approximately 3700 ft from the end of a runway and I’ve never had it stop me from flying.. I dont fly more than the 700ft min altitude of the airspace but it doesn’t do anything other than make me click twice. Even if the app won’t let you fly you can still fly the mavic without your phone connected.

Ralph Hightower

Which means that every weekend you can’t fly your drone.

Name

Wind?! Mavic Pro is the MASTER in wind fly. I’m afraid that Robert did not fly Mavic Pro at all…

matt kurvin

I have to agree, I flew it in 15-20 mph winds at high altitudes and it flew like a champ. I also have the Inspire 1 Pro, so I have something to compare it to. Very impressed.